Tag Archive for: George Baker

Get It poised to chase another big prize at Windsor next week

/in /by

George Baker is eyeing further riches with Get It, with the Stewards’ Cup hero in line for a quick return to action at Windsor on Monday.

The six-year-old was registering his eighth career success when plundering the £128,850 first prize at odds of 40-1 under Pat Cosgrave at Goodwood, with the victory also a notable feather in the cap of “Sussex man” Baker in a race he had watched since a boy.

With his handler pleased with the condition of Get It following his exertions on the Sussex Downs, his sprint champion could now go in search of the £38,655 on offer to the winner of the Fitzdares Sprint Series Final Handicap – a race the gelding qualified for when winning at the track in June.

Baker said: “The horse is fantastic and has bounced out of the race really well. He only lost 3KG, which implies he didn’t have a hard race, which is amazing.

“He is in the Fitzdares sprint final at Windsor on Monday, which is a £75,000 race, and I wouldn’t normally think of rushing back a Stewards’ Cup winner so quickly but he is giving me every indication that he is in grand order and if all is well throughout the rest of the week, it seems silly to miss out on a pot like that. All being well, we may turn up at Windsor with nothing to lose.

“He qualified for it when winning well there earlier in the season and it’s not going to define his season. It’s going to be a big ask and he’s almost certainly going to be top weight, but we’re kind of in the bonus column with him now after winning a Stewards’ Cup.”

Get It (right) winning the Stewards' Cup
Get It (right) winning the Stewards’ Cup (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Get It spent the majority of the last two winters competing in Bahrain and a return to the Persian Gulf appears on the cards following a possible stop off at Doncaster for a tilt at another prestigious sprinting prize.

Baker continued: “If he runs on Monday, we can give him an easy time after that before going for something like a Portland – and then we can freshen him up ahead of heading back to Bahrain.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Get It makes all to claim Stewards’ Cup glory

/in /by

Get It produced a superb front-running display to claim a surprise victory in the Coral Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

Following a winter campaign in Bahrain, George Baker’s sprinter made a fine start back in Britain with back-to-back wins at Windsor and Epsom, but was well held on his most recent outing at Ascot.

As a result, the six-year-old was a 40-1 shot for one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the season on the Sussex Downs, but he roared back to form in some style in the hands of Pat Cosgrave.

Drawn highest of all in stall 28, Get It was smartly out of the stalls and blazed a trail against the stands’ rail for the duration of the six-furlong contest.

There were plenty still in with a chance entering the final furlong, with horses spread across the track, but Get It stuck to his guns to claim the first prize of almost £129,000 by half a length.

Apollo One picked up the silver medal in second, with the well-fancied Billyjoh third and Mostabshir in fourth. The 9-2 favourite Purosangue was well beaten.

“It’s an old cliche but I couldn’t believe what price he was this morning. Forget about his last run, he hates Ascot – it was a £100,00 race but we shouldn’t have gone for it, as five furlongs doesn’t suit a front-runner,” said Cosgrave.

“He won well at Epsom and I love it when we get drawn on the fence because he likes to jump and get over for a furlong, and then you can ride him after that. I’m not saying that I thought he would win today, but I didn’t think that he was a 40-1 shot.

“It’s tough in the UK because there are a lot of good jockeys, but I am riding for some really good people this year and it’s going along nicely.

“It’s a nice handicap today, but back to work tomorrow. It’s great for George, who’s very enthusiastic about the game.”

Pat Cosgrave celebrates after winning the Stewards' Cup on Get It
Pat Cosgrave celebrates after winning the Stewards’ Cup on Get It (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Baker said: “Being a Sussex man, I’ve been coming to this race since I was five, six, seven – and I watched it for many years before I became a racehorse trainer, so to go and win this race on my doorstep means a huge amount. It really does tick a massive box for me.

“It’s a massive team of wonderful owners and we’ve had a lot of fun with this horse in Bahrain, but I think this party might go on a little bit longer!

“I’ve got local friends here. We’ve got a house full for a week, it’s been a long week, having a party that started on Tuesday and probably won’t end until next Tuesday! It’s magical.

“I couldn’t believe how well he was going. I was delighted we drew that draw. He came out second out of the hat and Pat and I talked about it. Look, it was pretty simple.

“I kept looking around and thinking something is going to come, because you don’t expect to win the Stewards’ Cup, but I’ve just won the Stewards’ Cup!”

Part-owner Mark Tracey added: “We’ve come to Goodwood for 31 years racing horses and we’ve never had a ‘Glorious’ winner. It’s a fantastic feeling. He’s won in Bahrain, he’s won in the Racing League, and he’s now won the Stewards’ Cup!”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Cemhaan stays on strongly to spring Rosebery surprise

/in /by

The burden of top-weight proved no barrier to success for Cemhaan as George Baker’s charge secured a surprise victory in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Rosebery Handicap at Kempton.

The seven-year-old was already a dual winner at the Sunbury circuit, with his most recent triumph last May followed by a third-place finish behind Vauban in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.

He was subsequently well beaten in the Ebor at York, though, and while his January comeback at Kempton was not devoid of promise, he was a 25-1 shot for this £100,000 contest in the hands of Neil Callan.

After jumping out of the stalls smartly, Cemhaan briefly threatened to make all the running before eventually sitting on the heels of both Killybegs Warrior and Old Peculier.

With the pace visibly slackening before the home turn, the front end turned out to be the place to be and both Killybegs Warrior and Cemhaan found another gear once asked to fight out the finish.

Killybegs Warrior did not go down easily, but Cemhaan wore him down late on and passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good, with the free-going Intinso best of the rest in third.

“It was a very good, tough performance – he loves the track, this horse,” Callan said of the winner.

“He’s been so consistent and had a good run at Ascot last year, which just shows you the sort of level he’s been mixing it at.

Cemhaan leads the way at Kempton
Cemhaan leads the way at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

“I won a small-field handicap on him last year when he dominated from the front and he jumped that well I was going to let him bowl along again today, but James (Doyle, on Killybegs Warrior) was intent on getting to the front.

“I kind of knew when he got there, he would slow it up, which I knew would suit me because my horse had a lot of weight on his back and you wouldn’t want to be stretching him from a long way out.

“I think the way the race panned out played into my hands and as long as I had the revs up going to the junction at the cut-off, I knew I’d pick them off. He’s very genuine and tough.”

Baker’s wife, Candida, added: “George is playing golf in Africa. I think he’d much rather be here today!

“I’m so pleased. Cemhaan went all the way to St Moritz and then the racing was called off, which was very annoying as all the owners were out there and it takes about three days to get him there.

“This was always the plan for him once we brought him back. With that top-weight, he was so tough, I got the saddle off Neil and I was carrying it thinking, ‘God, I’m not going to put this on him too early if I can help it’. He’s just so genuine, tries so much and I’m chuffed to bits, he owes us nothing.

“Neil is an excellent jockey – when he’s in a ride-off against another jockey, I’d back him every time, even when it’s against James Doyle.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Bahrain runner Lucander headlines international weekend for Baker

/in /by

George Baker is ready for a jet-setting weekend as he saddles Lucander in Bahrain and Cemhaan and Cumulonimbus on the snow in St Moritz.

The trainer is no stranger to either jurisdiction and has enjoyed success at both, but he has never taken in both meetings on the same weekend before.

Lucander runs in the H.H Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup on Friday and Baker is eyeing further riches in the sun.

“We have seven horses over here this season. Lucander has won a Turf Series race and ran a massive race in the Crown Prince’s Cup,” he said.

“He will run this week in H.H Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. He has also been invited to stay here for the King’s Cup which is a very valuable race in the beginning of March. It’s been a very good campaign so far and it’s been great to be involved.”

Ancient Greece broke new ground for Baker when winning three times on the White Turf at St Moritz in 2013 with Wargrave another winner on the ice.

Cumulonimbus also the distinction of being owned by the owner of a Kentucky Derby winner, Ramiro Restrepo.

Cemhaan has shown some very useful form in the UK
Cemhaan has shown some very useful form in the UK (John Walton/PA)

“Cumulonimbus is a new addition to the team. He is a horse that my wife Candida and I loved when we saw him at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in October but he went for 150,000 guineas so we thought he was gone on to other pastures,” said Baker.

“But we were called that night by Ramiro Restrepo, who is involved in the syndicate that won the Kentucky Derby last year with Mage. Ramiro had noted our exploits on the frozen lake at St Moritz and the call was a lovely one to get as it was to ask us if were interested to train the horse and prepare him for St Moritz.

“Cemhaan has always been a quality performer in the UK. He was third at Royal Ascot last year and the previous year he won the Heritage Handicap on 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket. He is a proven horse.

“Both horses have done everything we have asked of them. All we can do is send them in good form and good health and that is the case right now.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Baker plotting Ebor route for Cemhaan

/in /by

George Baker is eyeing up a tilt at the Sky Bet Ebor with Cemhaan following his gallant effort in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.

The six-year-old has been somewhat of a stable star for Baker, winning five of his 18 starts since joining the the Robins Farm handler from John Gosden in 2020 and this year competing at the Royal meeting for the second successive season.

He bettered last year’s seventh in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, with a fine effort to finish third in the opening day’s concluding contest – a run which can be marked up given the impressive nature of the winner Vauban and the fact Cemhaan only lost second in the dying strides when pipped to the runner-up spot by another Willie Mullins-trained runner, Absurde.

“It was a wonderful run,” said Baker.

“I thought a leg had fallen off because he drifted so much. I genuinely thought he was around a 20-1 chance and to see him on the boards at 66-1, you do wonder if a leg has actually fallen off.

“He ran a hell of a race and he has been a star for us. He’s been in great form recently and Pat Cosgrave gave him a lovely ride. Pat said he would have been second if he hadn’t had to commit to chase the mighty Vauban which just paid in the last 20 yards and we got done for second, but it was a huge run and we were clear of rest.

“Take out the annoying Mr Mullins – who luckily is a mate of mine – and we have won the race really nicely.”

Delighted with his charge’s performance, Baker now feels the £500,000 Ebor on August 26 is the obvious long-term target for his ever-improving son of Muhaarar and options ahead of the valuable York contest include possible trips to Germany and France next month, or even an early sighter of the Knavesmire in the John Smith’s Cup on July 15.

Cemhaan exiting the stalls in the Copper Horse Handicap during day one of Royal Ascot
Cemhaan exiting the stalls in the Copper Horse Handicap during day one of Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

He continued: “We’ve got much to look forward to and the Ebor would be the obvious plan. We’ll revolve the season around that.

“He’s in a Group race in Germany in July and he’s in the John Smith’s Cup which is back to a mile and a quarter, but I think this horse is pretty flexible and a mile and a quarter up to one-mile-six and maybe even further is fine for him.

“For now, all roads lead to the Ebor and if we have a run in July, we may sneak over to Germany or France for a Group race. That may make sense as some of those sometimes do cut up between festivals.

“He’s an exciting horse and we’re lucky to have him.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Baker hoping to chart Pertemps path with Mullins recruit

/in /by

Jon Snow is pencilled in for his British debut at Chepstow on Saturday, as he looks to book his slot at the Cheltenham Festival.

The French-bred gelding was previously run in the Susannah Ricci silks and trained by Willie Mullins, winning five times over hurdles and fences before changing hands last autumn.

George Baker is now the eight-year-old’s trainer after he topped ThoroughBid’s Autumn Sale at £50,000 and is looking forward to running him for the first time for new connections at the weekend.

Entered in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow, the horse’s performance will determine which race he lines up for when the Festival gets under way at Cheltenham in March.

“All being well, Jon Snow’s entered up at Chepstow in the Pertemps qualifier on Saturday,” said Baker.

“If he finishes in the first four on Saturday and he qualifies for the Pertemps, he’ll go there.

“That’s over the extended trip, the three-mile trip, which I think would suit him.

“If he doesn’t finish in the first four on Saturday then we have the option of the Coral Cup, he will probably run in one or the other of those two – those are my thoughts are the moment.

“Let’s hope he gets through Saturday in good form, we’re pretty excited to get him out on the track.”

Jon Snow is partly owned by Paul Bowden, the same man also involved in the ownership of Flat campaigner Lucander – a horse likely headed for the Winter Derby at Lingfield after a successful bout in the desert of Bahrain.

Few owners can say they have switched their attentions from the Bahrain Flat scene to the Cheltenham Festival in the space of a month, but Baker’s wide-lens approach has paid dividends for connections so far.

He said: “It’s brilliant really, Paul Bowden has been a fantastic supporter of ours.

“You’ve got to make this game fun for the owners and if that means searching for opportunities on foreign shores then that’s great, and it’s also fantastic to be involved in the bigger races back home.”



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Baker could bid to strike while the iron is hot with in-form Lucander

/in /by

George Baker may have the BetUK Winter Derby lined up for Lucander after his lucrative spell in Bahrain.

The six-year-old was formerly trained by Ralph Beckett and on changing stables was sent to spearhead Baker’s team of runners targeting valuable contests in Bahrain over the winter months.

His debut in the desert was a winning one as he took the Al Muharraq Cup in early December and last Friday he capped his stay in warmer climes with another success, this time in the Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa Cup – a local Group Two.

The gelding is now in the checking-in stage of his journey home, and if all is well after his flight he will be headed to Lingfield on Saturday to contest the Group Three Winter Derby.

“He will BE jumping on an aeroplane from Bahrain in a few hours’ time, he won the big race over there on Friday and he seems very fresh and bouncy afterwards,” Baker said on Monday afternoon.

“Assuming all is well with him when he gets off the plane and gets back to us tomorrow afternoon, we’ll have a long hard look at Saturday’s race because when a horse is in good form you want to strike again.

“He’ll probably have a break after this, so if all is well we will hope to swing the bat on Saturday and then give him a bit of break after his time away ahead of some mid-summer targets.”

Lucander ran three times on the all-weather for Beckett, never winning but placing on each occasion and doing plenty to suggest the surface will be to his liking.

Baker said: “He hasn’t run on the all-weather for us, we’re still finding out about this horse but what we do know is that he is in great form. It’s probably a massive ask on Saturday but we thought it was a big ask last Friday.

“He’ll only run if we’re very happy with him on Wednesday and Thursday, but the indications are that he’s come out of Friday’s race really well and he’s got some decent form on the all-weather.

“With a horse that’s in good order, why not give it a go?”

Also entered in the race are the John and Thady Gosden trio of Harrovian, Lord North and Forest Of Dean.

The latter two horses bring specific race form to the table, with Lord North second in the race behind Alenquer last season and Forest Of Dean the winner in 2021.

Roger Varian’s striking grey Tyrrhenian Sea is another to stand his ground alongside Simon and Ed Crisford’s Winter Oaks heroine Al Agaila, Andrew Balding’s Foxes Tales, William Knight’s King Of The South and John Ryan’s Pistoletto.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns